Posted on: Tuesday, August 21, 2001

Jason Baba, law managing partner, dead at 44

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

Jason N. Baba, a Honolulu attorney and managing partner of Bays, Deaver, Lung Rose & Baba, died Friday in a kayaking accident. He was 44.

Baba was born July 31, 1957, in Los Angeles, Calif. He earned undergraduate degrees in business administration at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa, and his law degree at the University of California at Los Angeles School of Law in 1983.

Baba joined the Hawai'i firm in 1987 and became a partner in 1992. This year, he became the firm's managing partner.

Baba specialized in construction, real estate and commercial litigation. He was a member of the National Commercial Builders Council and was a director of the Building Industry Association of Hawai'i.

"Jason was an excellent attorney who worked hard and long for his clients," said law partner Crystal Rose. "He also was a loyal partner, a great father and a good friend."

Baba was kayaking Friday afternoon off Windward O'ahu when his family reported him missing.

Honolulu Fire Department rescue crews searched for about 30 minutes before finding his body between the reef and shoreline off Kualoa Beach.

Rescuers brought Baba to shore but were unable to resuscitate him.

Baba is survived by his wife, Marlene; children, Jeremy and Caitlin; mother, Irene Yee Baba; brothers, Jerome and John; and sisters, Julianne Kaya and Janine.

Visitation is 4 p.m. Sunday at Borthwick Mortuary, service at 5 p.m. Friends also may call on 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Monday at Borthwick Mortuary, Mass at 11:30 a.m. Burial is set for noon at Hawaiian Memorial Park.

A scholarship fund has been set up for Baba's children.

Donations can be made to: Baba Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 1760, Honolulu, HI 96806.